2022
20 copies
Signed and numbered on the cover
31×33×2 cm
12.20×12.99×0.78 in.
24 hand sprayed pages
12 archival pigment prints
Cardboard, paper and fabric
Anodised Chicago screws

2.050 €



Mars is a lady and she was born at nighttime, in the hour of vampires, shattered glass, and bat-wing alien landings.

Three Star Books presents the first publication and exhibition of the Mars project, a collaborative effort between Nathan Carter, Dan Estabrook, and Mercedes Jelinek — all Brooklyn-based artists with a passion for storytelling through art works and photographs.

Each week on Wednesday night, the three artists assemble their alchemy: lights are dimmed, potions are concocted, the music turns dark, and fishnet tights are torn. The stage is set for Mars to manifest. With analog cameras or digital tools, plus plenty of cardboard, spray paint, and tequila, the three artists work together to create the world of Mars.

The volume references private photo albums. Like a medieval illuminated book, each page carrying an original pigment print photograph is lit up with hand sprayed stencils realized at Nathan Carter’s studio by the artists with RUST-OLEUM fluorescent pink bright neon color on blue Fedrigoni Italian paper - making each copy unique. The production has been realized at Three Star Books and the pages are bound with pink anodized aluminum Chicago hardware.

Since 2020, when M A R S was born, Carter and Estabrook and Jelinek have created a large body of work from which twelve images have been selected and bound in a custom made volume by Three Star Books.

The examination of gender identity has emerged in the work of artists from Pierre Molinier to Cindy Sherman. Continuing in this tradition, artists Nathan Carter and Dan Estabrook invite a coming out, amidst Cecil Beaton’s haunting metallic scenes and The Misfits’ horror punk sounds on the dirty dancehall floor. Playing with lights, lenses, bat-wing eyes and deadly stiletto heels the post-punk* alchemy of Mars is summoned.

*Note that Nathan Carter is also an accomplished post-punk electric bass guitar player.

︎︎︎See the installation of “MARS” @ Three Star Books here.

︎︎︎See the 12 photographs here.

︎︎︎See the 13 collages here.

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